Toshack hopes captaincy will lift Bellamy

By IAN LADYMAN

Last updated at 09:05 05 October 2006

John Toshack hopes the elevation of Craig Bellamy to Wales captain will help curb the off-field excesses of one of football's more controversial characters, but his international team-mates are not expecting the Liverpool striker to be any different on the field.

Bellamy's likely strike partner Robert Earnshaw joked: "It will be the usual stuff - you know what he's like.

"He will be moaning all the time! To me it is just an armband, it doesn't matter. He's not going to be any different. But he wants everyone to do well, that's why he is like that.

"Being captain will be good for him. He wants the armband but it won't matter to anyone else.

"I don't think it will make any difference to his game, he will just be going out of the tunnel first instead of near the back. He always plays well.

"He is also always moaning at people, telling them to do this and do that. He is quite vocal anyway. That's why this won't make much of a difference."

Bellamy, 27, has been handed the captaincy in the absence of the injured Ryan Giggs for Saturday's game against Slovakia at the Millennium Stadium and the Euro 2008 qualifier against Cyprus that follows next Wednesday in Cardiff.

His preparation will not be helped on Monday by a court appearance on an assault charge - which he denies - but Norwich striker Earnshaw believes Bellamy is strong enough to cope.

He added: "We get on well, he's a good boy really. I enjoy playing with him because I think we compliment each other quite well. He has to handle the court case. He's strong enough.

"He's had his share of problems before but he still goes out and plays football well. It won't matter, it won't make any difference at all.

"I think he is a player the younger ones look up to. You do look at the people who have been in the squad a long time."

Saturday will also be a big day for Wales midfielder Jason Koumas, a player rebuilding his career after a series of problems at West Bromwich Albion.

Having fallen out with former Albion boss Bryan Robson over a lengthy period, he joined Cardiff City on loan only for a permanent move to fall through.

Having initially refused to train with Albion in pre-season, he has patched up his differences with the club and is back in the first team, playing regularly for caretaker boss Nigel Pearson.

Koumas said: "Things dragged on in the summer and they shouldn't have. It was probably my fault really. I should have gone back to West Brom earlier and it was a mistake I made.

"But I'm glad I'm back. John Toshack rang me all over the summer. He was giving me advice and I knew exactly where I was with him. I'm here to do well for him.

"It is unfair that people think I'm awkward to deal with, but what can you do about it?

"If you look from the outside you are going to say that. But I've always enjoyed my time with Wales and I don't want to be missing any more squads."